Current conducting molding for ornamental lighting



Aug. 22, 1933. H. w. LAWRENCE CURRENT CONDUCTING MOLDING FOR ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING Filed Nov. 22, 1930 4 'IIIIIIIIII III/I, 4

Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURRENT CONDUCTING MOLDING FOR ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING Application November 22, 1930 Serial No. 497,524

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for holding electric lamp globes in place for decorating purposes and conducting the current to the globes.

The principal object of the invention is to providecombination means for both holding and feeding electric lamp globes which will be adaptable to any desired design and which will eliminate the usual independent lamp sockets and wiring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous molding for holding a continuous series of electric lamp globes which can be cut and positioned tocarry out any desired design and so that it will be adaptable for outlining buildings, sign boards, borders, etc., in electric lights.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an electric lamp carrying molding in which the invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section through the molding taken on the line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar cross section taken on the line 44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section illustrating. an alternate method of constructing the molding.

Fig. 6 illustrates the invention applied to a shaft or molding from which it is desired to have light globes project at all sides.

Fig. '7 illustrates the principle of the invention applied to a fiat, surface design.

Fig. 8 illustrates how the molding of Fig. 1 can be fitted to form any desired design.

It is highly desirable to provide a molding arranged for carrying a continuous, spaced-apart series of electric lamp globes and to so construct this molding that it can be cut into various lengths and shaped to form any desired outline do and further which will not require feed wires for the globes. Such a molding is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. This molding is formed from a metallic lamp strip 10, perforated with a series of spaced apart openings, in each of which a socket shell 11 is soldered or otherwise secured. The shells 11 carry the usual threads for receiving the base of an electric lamp. The lamp strip 10 is supported on a series of spaced apart insulating'blocks 12, which may be. secured thereto by means of suitable attachment screws 13. The blocks 12 may be provided with ears 14, perforated to receive attachment screws for attaching the molding to any desired supporting structure.

A conducting bar 15 is also supported by the blocks 12, in notches 16 formed in their bottoms. The conducting bar 12 passes directly under, but does not contact with, each of the socket shells 11. When an electric lamp is screwed into the socket shells, its base tip will contact with the attachment bar 15, thus completing the electric circuit betweenthe lamp strip 10 and the conductor bar 15.

It will be noted that the conductor bar 15 is supported in the notches 16 by means of attachment screws 17 so as to prevent it from contacting with any supporting surface to which the blocks 12 may be attached.

The complete molding can be marketed in any desired standard lengths and can be cut apart, so so as to form it around any desired design, as shown in Fig. 8. When formed, the joints in the strip 10 and the bar 15 can be soldered so as to form a continuous, parallel circuit with all of the lamps.

The attachment screws 13 and 17 are countersunk into the insulating blocks 12, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to prevent short circuits between the plate 10 and the bar 15.

An alternate form of the invention is shown in Fig. 5. This form is similar to the previously described form except that a continuous backing 18 of insulating material, such as bakelite, fabricord, fiber, or similar material, is secured along the entire bottom of the conducting bar 15 and the molding is attached to a supporting surface by means of screws which are positioned through holes 19 in the insulating strip 18. The lamp strip is separated from the insulating strip 18 and the conductor bar 15 by means of insulating blocks 20 which in this form would not need to be provided with attachment ears.

In Fig. 6 the invention is adapted to form a shaft or column from which lamp globes can project at all sides. Such a shaft is employed in the electric sign illustrated in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 497,473 which has matured to Patent No. 1,855,297, dated April 26, 1932 and will be found useful for many other purposes.

This form of the invention comprises an outer lamp carrying tube 21, which may be of any desired cross section such as square as illustrated. The sides of the tube 21 are perforated to receive socket shells 22 which are soldered or otherwise secured in the perforations as in the preceding forms of the invention.

A conductor tube 23 passes entirely through the lamp carrying a tube 21 and is maintained concentric therewith by means of insulating spacer blocks 24 which are carried by the conductor tube 23 at spaced apart intervals and fit snugly within the tube 21.

It will be seen from the above description that the basic feature of the invention is to provide a common support of conducting material through which a series of lamp bases are threaded and a contact surface of conducting material with. which the tips of lamp bases may contact. This same priciple can be carried out where it is desired to form a surface design or character such as shown in Fig. 7.

In this form the socket shells shown at 25, are secured through perforations in a face plate 26 which may be any desired design. Immediately behind the face plate 26 a conducting plate 2'7 is positioned, which is spaced from the face plate upon suitable insulating blocks 28. It can readily be seen that lamp bases threaded through the socket shells 25 will contact with the conducting plate 27 to close a parallel, electric circuit through all of the lamps.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is icslaimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1. Means for supporting and carrying current to a, series of electric lamp globes comprising: a relatively long metallic strip carrying a series of spaced apart openings; a threaded socket shell secured in each of said openings; spaced apart insulating blocks supporting said strip; a conductor bar maintained in spaced relation with said strip under each of said socket shells by said insulating blocks, said conductor bar being carried in notches in said insulating blocks so that it will not contact with a supporting surface for said blocks.

2. Means for supporting and carrying current to a series of electric lamp globes comprising: a relatively long metallic strip carrying a series of spaced apart openings; a threaded socket shell secured in each of said openings; spaced apart insulating blocks supporting said strip; a conductor bar maintained in spaced relation with said strip under each of said socket shells by said insulating blocks, said conductor bar being carried in notches in said insulating looks so that it will not contact with a supporting surface for said blocks; and attachment ears formed on said insulating blocks.

3. Means for supporting and carrying current to a series of electric lamp globes comprising: a relatively long metallic strip carrying a series of spaced apart openings; a threaded socket shell secured in each of said openings; spaced apart insulating blocks supporting said strip; a conductor bar maintained in spaced relation with said strip under each of said socket shells by said insulating blocks, said conductor bar being carried in notches in said insulating blocks so that it will not contact with a supporting surface for said blocks; attachment screws arranged to secure said metallic strip to said insulating block, said screws having a length relatively less than said blocks so that they will not project into contact with a supporting surface; and attachment screws for attaching said conductor bar in said notches, said latter screws being relatively short so that they will not project into contact with said metallic strip.

HARRY W. LAWRENCE. 

